"This thread is (nominally!) about evolution, a scientific concept.
At the heart of any scientific concept is an idea founded upon some presumption and supported by a philosophical view. Then tested under conditions which allow observation and analysis.
"I feel comfortable in expecting scientific or at least rational method to be used in discussing moral law, in the sense of a mathematical or physical law."
Morality does not have physical characteristics, it is an experiencial dimension of existence however. It is verifiable by human observation of self aware experience and conscience. Human observation of morality is confirmed by the billions of observers. So as a corroborated observation which is without exception among normally intelligent humans it is statistical. Social scientists derive mathematical statistics from sociological studies of those facts.
"The ancient sages were unconcerned with quantification and proof, but in the pursuit of this inquiry I am. "
Morality, not being physical, is not subject to a study of physics, so you are left with a choice. Define the physical universe as the only reality, in which case you must deny major aspects of your experience; or, determine the limits of physics as a knowledge base, while considering a broader study of experience.
"As for the ancient sages ... does it not strike you as odd that there aren't modern sages, who have so much more of the human story behind them, who are embraced as authorities?
Not at all odd to my thinking. We generally reserve use of the term 'sage' to identify the representatives of thought and wisdom who have passed the test of time. There are modern thinkers who have benefitted from such ageless wisdom and who are expanding on those ideas, IMO. We just don't call them sages and they don't tend to get time on stage in the mainstream. Also we have raised the status of technical advancement to the point where an engineer who can add a new form of widget to our tool chest is embraced more as an authority by society than than are contributions of sagacity. In this sense and as I look at the mores of society, it seems human beings may be de-evolving as technical society is becoming more advanced. |
